Welding apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V. G. JARMAN WELDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 7, 1944 July 31, 1945.

/N VEN TOR G. JA RMA/V By if? m awlw A WOR/v5 Y 31, l v G JARMAN WELDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /NVENTOR By L/ 6. JARMAN ATTORNEY Patented July 3l, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE WELDING APPARATUS Vincent G. Jarman, Watchung, N. J., assigner to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 7, 1944, Serial No. 517.347

` (ci. 21a- 4) in a vertical path between given limits by suitable 3 Claims.

This invention relates to welding apparatus, and more particularly to those employing slidable electrodes.

In certain types of welding apparatus, itis customary for one of the electrodes or a portion4 thereof to be moved out of alignment with its companion electrode to receive parts to be assembled through welding. In such instances ithas been the tendency sometimes for `the movable electrode to pick up foreign particles in its movement which might disturb the electrical path between it and its associated parts.

An object of the invention is to provide a sim- 1 ple, efficient and highly practical welding apparatus.

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises a welding apparatus wherein an electrode formed to receive an article is supported for transverse movement relative to its companion electrode free from a conductive member until disposed in the welding position.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in commotion with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the lower portion of the welding apparatus, portions thereof being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig.. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, let it rst be understood that the complete welding apparatus is not disclosed therein, onlyv those parts which are necessary to illustrate thev invention being shown. First attention is directed to the articles to be welded. There is an upper article I cylindrical in general contour but having an annular portion II adjacent the closed end thereof which is to be welded throughout its circular contour to an annular flange I2 of an article I4. These articles are to constitute portions of a vacuum tube and it is most important that they be welded completely throughout the circular area of the portion I l, where it engages the flange I2, to form an air-tight connection. The article I0 isin the present illustration shown in Figs. 2 and 3 slidably disposed upon an upper electrode I5 and he, there by the frictional contact of the engaging surfaces of the article and electrode. The upper electrode I5 will hereinafter be termed a reciprocablo electrode, having a head portion I6 supported by a unit il, the latter being reciprocated means (not shown).

The article I4 is received ina lower electrode unit indicated generally at Il. This unit includes a head portion 20 with a central aperture 2|, to receive the article I4, and fluid passageways 22 extending in different directions therethrough, with an inlet 23 and an outlet 24 for connection with a uid circulating system (not shown). An electrode 25, centrally apertured at 26 to receive the article I4, is formed of a suitable conductive material, preferably copper, provided with a silver coating. The electrode 25 has an annular recess 21 in the upper face thereof to receive an annular conductive member 28 and is secured thereto by suitable means, such as screws 29. The member 2l in turn is fixed to the head portion 20 through the aid of screws 3i, as shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the annular member 2l has a central aperture 33 disposed in alignment with the apertures 2l and 26 to receive the article I4, the member also having a recess J4, annular in contour, to support the flange I2 of the article I4.

The electrode 25 has tongue-shaped projections 31 at oppOsing sides thereof for interengagement with guides 38. The guides 38 are supported by a base 40 and a table 4I (Fig. l and 2), the latter projecting forwardly or to the left from a recessed portion 42 of the base in which the inner end of the table is disposed and secured in place by means of screws 43. The securing means for the guides includes screws 44. Through the aid of the guides 38, the electrode unit Il may be moved into two positions, namely the welding position shown in solid lines in all of the figures or the loading position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2. The base 40 is formed of a suitable u conductive material, preferably copper, with its upper surface coated with silver and including passageways 45 therein for the circulation of a cooling fluid.

Through the aid of a handle 48, the unit I8 may be moved into either of the positions shown. namely' the loading position, where it receives the article I4, or into the welding position, where the article l0 is to be welded to the article I4, It is important during this movement that the electrode 25, particularly the under surface thereof, be held free of engagement or contact with the other parts, where it may pick up foreign matter which might obstruct a free electrical path between the electrode and the base 40 during the welding operation. To accomplish this result,l

supporting rails are disposed upon each side of l the electrode above the guides 38. At the loading position. nxedor stationary rails 50 are mounted upon the guides Il. While in this position, a removable but normally fixed stop having its ends secured as at 52 to the guides 38, limits the forward movement of the unit I8.

Movable rails 54, supported by spring pressed elements 55. are disposed upon each side of the electrode 25 with their upper surfaces normally lying in a common plane with the upper surfaces of the fixed rails 50. The elements 55 are movably disposed in apertures 58 and are normally urged upwardly by springs 51. The springs l1 are housed in apertures in the guides 38 and the base 40, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The shoulders or head portions 58 of the elements 55 limit the upward movement of the rails 54. to maintain the normal alignment of their upper surfaces with those of the fixed rails 5I). In the present illustration the head portion 2li of the unit Il is provided with runners 60 fixed thereto by suitable means such as welding. If desired, other supporting means may be provided.

Through the aid of a stop .52, the unit Is is located with the center line of the article receiving apertures thereof in alignment with the center line of the electrode I5. Also, an adjustable screw 83 is carried by the unit Il to actuate a plunger 54 of a micro-switch 65. The switch 65 is included in a weld-ing circuit indicated generally at 6I. The welding circuit is shown schematically in Fig. 3, including a transformer 69 with a secondary winding thereof electrically connected to the electrode I 5, or the head I6 thereof. and the base 40. A primary winding 1I oi' the transformer is included in a circuit extending from line l2 through a manually operable switch 1l. a unit 14 includingother desired controlv means for the circuit, the micro-switch 65 when closed, the winding 1 I. to line 15.

Considering now the operation of the welding apparatus, let it be assumed that the unit I8 is in the loading position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig..2. When in this position the article I4 is dropped through the aperture 2i, where it comes to rest with the flange portion I2 in the recess I4. The article Ill is disposed upon the electrode I5. vafter which, through the aid of the handle 4l, the unit Il is moved to the welding position. During this movement of the unit I5, the lower surface of the electrode 25 is held free of the table 4I and the base 40 by the runners 50 riding upon the rails 50 and 5l. In the welding position the unit I8 is held, through the aid of the handle 45. against the stop 62 to hold the switch 55 actuated by the screw 83 engaging the plunger N. Suitable mechanism (not shown) may be set in operation to cause downward movement of the electrode I5 to move the article Ill into the aperture 2l. where the portion II thereof will engage the flange I2 of the article Il. During further movement of the reciprocable element I5. the unit Il is moved downwardly against the force of the spring 51. moving with it the rails 5I until the electrode 25 engages under sufficient pressure the adjacent surface of the base 40. At this time the electrode 25 is included positively in the circuit with the secondary coil 10 of the transformer 55. For the purpose of illustration, iet it be assumed that the switch 55 has been closed and that the mechanism in the unit 1l will control the closing of the welding circuit at a suitable time after the switch I5 has been closed and will ao limit the length of time the welding circuit remains closed. The details o! the unit 14 are well known in the welding art and need not be shown or described in detail to illustrate the invention.

During the downward movement of the reciprocable electrode I5, particularly after the engagement of the articles IU and I4, it will be noted that through the flexible support of the unit I8 mounted at this position upon the springs 51, the centering of the article I0 uponthe article I4 will be broughtabout, so that uniform welding may be produced throughout the circular area of the engaging portions of the articles.

After the welding operation has been completed, the electrode I5 is moved upwardly, allowing the springs 51 to move their rails 54 upwardly limited by the `heads 58 of the elements 55, to again align theupper surfaces of the rails 54 with the upper surface of the rails 50. I'his action of the rails through the force of the springs 51, moves the electrode 25 free of the base In. The unit I8 may then be returned to the loading position, carrying with it the welded articles, the electrode I5 having been removed from the article Ill` during -its upward movement. The weldedarticles may then` be removed from the unit I5 and the processrepeated for welding another pair oi.' articles I0 and Il.

Although specific improvements of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are but illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

What 1s claimed is:

1. A welding apparatus comprising a reciprocable electrode formed to engage a rst article which is to be welded to a second article, a base of conductive material, a second electrode formed to receive the second article. rails for supporting the second electrode for movement free of the base between a loading positionand a welding position, and means to support certain of the rails adjacent the welding position for movement by the reciprocable electrode for movement of the second electrode into engagement with the base.

2. A welding apparatus comprising a reciprocable electrode formed to engage a nrst article which is to be welded to a second article. a base of conductive material, a second electrode formed to receive the second article, rails for supporting the second electrode for movement free of the base between a loading position and a welding position, means to support certain of the rails adjacent the welding position for movement by the reciprocable electrode for movement of the second electrode into engagement with the base. and runners carried by the second electrode slid- -able on the rails.

3. A welding apparatus comprising a reciprocable electrode formed to engage a rst article which is to be welded to a second article, a base of conductive material, a second electrode formed VINCENT G. JARMN. 

